A culture medium and environmental conditions were selected for ovule culture of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic. ♯4 ABUTH), which allowed development parallel to that occurring in vivo. Of the six nutrient media evaluated, the most suitable one contained an organic nitrogen source and was of high osmotic potential. A liquid medium with a pH of 5 to 7, and culture for 14 days at 25 C under green light (1.3 μmole·m-2·-1) encouraged good embryo and ovule development. No difference was recorded between polyethylene glycol 20000 and mannitol in the medium used for dehydration and subsequent imbibition of cultured mature ovules. To investigate the effects of maternal tissues, surgical alterations were performed on the testa and funiculus of immature velvetleaf ovules. The intact testa appears to be a barrier to nutrient absorption and reduces the fresh and dry weights and embryo length. Ovule and embryo development was significantly better if either the testa was nicked or the funiculus removed.

The culture of ovules excised from velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic., ♯4 ABUTH) capsules 5 days after anthesis was used to measure the effects of abscisic acid (ABA) and sucrose on embryo development and prevention of precocious germination. ABA at 1 × 10-7 M combined with 6% sucrose in the medium for the first 14 days of culture increased embryo development but prevented precocious germination. Higher concentrations of ABA inhibited embryo development. Without ABA, precocious germination increased directly with the concentration of sucrose in the medium, and embryos died. In vivo, ABA reached its highest concentration in ovules 5 days after anthesis but was undetectable after 16 days. Parental control of embryo development may involve ABA and an increasing concentration of osmoticum as seeds dehydrate during maturation.